Sunday, June 14, 2026
Local Events on Sunday include the Motley Fair has their final day today, with demolition derby at the grandstand at 2pm. Today is the final Mass at St. John Nepomuk Church in Lastrup at 10am. Holy Family Belle Prairie Heritage Festival is today 10:30am Mass, food, bingo, cake walk, games, live music from Alan Godage 1-5pm and grand raffle at 4:30pm on the church grounds today.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported nearly 50 accidents Friday and Saturday around the state. A Foley woman was hurt when the car she was riding in was involved in a crash on Saturday morning. The crash happened about 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 23 in New London. The Minnesota State Patrol says a pickup being driven by 79-year-old Robert Tatge of Spicer was going west on Highway 9, and a car being driven by 75-year-old Glendor Johnson of Oak Park was going south on Highway 23 when they crashed. A passenger in Johnson's car, 63-year-old Jossie Johnson of Foley, was taken to the Willmar Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Tatge and Glendor Johnson were not hurt in the crash. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened on Highway 10 in Haven Township at about 5:15pm on Thursday. One vehicle was eastbound on Highway 10 while a second vehicle was entering eastbound Highway 10 from southbound County Road 16. They collided in the intersection. Two passengers in one of the vehicles, 77-year-old Mary Lombard of Clear Lake, and 78-year-old Robert Lombard of Clear Lake, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of their vehicle, 48-year-old Laurie Lopez of St. Cloud, was not hurt. The driver of the second vehicle, 41-year-old Bo Boelter of St. Cloud, was not hurt. A couple from Bismarck, North Dakota were injured in an accident near Verndale in Wadena County, more accidents were reported in Carleton, St. Louis, Dodge, Otter Tail and Kandiyohi Counties over the past few days. There was one fatal accident in Renville County on Friday night, and 3 more fatal accidents including two on I-494 near Bloomington on Saturday.
A reminder from Morrison County Public Works that road construction in underway in the county and some areas have slower speed limits, and some areas will have delays getting across roadways and also some lanes will be closed. Please follow road work limits and signage at this time. They remind motorists that fines double in Minnesota if you are found speeding in road constructions work zones.
The Sauk Rapids Fire Department has ruled that a fire that broke out at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School yesterday afternoon was an accident. The department was notified of a fire on the school’s east gymnasium roof at 4:30pm on Thursday, June 11. Upon arrival, firefighters extinguished the fire before it could cause further damage. All staff and students present in the building at the time were evacuated safely. Due to the fire, the school will be closed this weekend for air quality monitoring. Summer school activities are also canceled for Friday. No groups or organizations will have access to the building during this time. The department is assessing the extent of the roof damage and any potential water damage to the building’s interior.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for help as it investigates a reported altercation at Warner Lake Park. In a post on X Friday morning, the office said deputies responded June 6th to a physical and verbal altercation near the park’s volleyball courts. Investigators are asking anyone who recorded video of the incident to contact the Sheriff’s Office and ask for Deputy Grant Garber. No one has been arrested, and the case remains active. Deputies have continued working it in recent days, including seeking additional statements. Lt. Keith Simon said the incident was a verbal altercation that included allegations of a brief physical fight. No weapons were found, and that the video of the incident did not show a gun. Deputies took statements, he said, and the allegations of a brief physical fight were not substantiated. Anyone with video or information is asked to contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and speak with Deputy Grant Garber.
Congratulations to Kermit and Betty Eastman who celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in St. Cloud. The couple married in 1946, shortly after Kermit returned from serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. They met in Thief River Falls and moved to St. Cloud in 1959 so Kermit could pursue a career in education For Betty and Kermit Eastman, 80 years of marriage started with a chance meeting across the street. Betty Swan and her family moved to Thief River Falls, Minnesota, for her sophomore year of high school. It was there that she met Kermit, who lived across the street. Their relationship was interrupted when Kermit left to serve in the Navy during World War II. He served aboard the USS Mullany from 1943 to 1945, and survived a kamikaze attack and were forced to abandon ship on April 6, 1945, as part of the staging invasion force at Okinawa. Twenty-one crew members were killed but the ship was later recovered and managed to limp to Pearl Harbor for repairs. The family has grown to include their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren in those 80 years.
National News: Today is Flag Day. The Second Continental Congress adopted the U.S. Flag on June 14th, 1777. Though many questions on who was behind the U.S. Flag, and if Betsy Ross was the seamstress who created the first Flag it is still an important part of the United States today which will celebrate 250 years on July 4th. Raise the Flag proud on Flag Day Sunday and everyday. Also June 14th is the birthdate of the United States Army turning 251 years old, established on June 14th, 1775. Thank you all you have served in the United States Army on the Army's birthday.
Entertainment News: Gene Shalit, an American journalist known for his film reviews on the "Today" show, along with his bowties, bushy brows and mustache, has died. He was 100. His family confirmed the news with NBC News on Friday, saying the journalist “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life. "Shalit was an on-air critic for "Today" for more than 40 years. He joined “Today” as a contributor in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973, later settling in for his segment, “Critic’s Corner." When he left the show in 2010, he was one of the last high-profile film critics on a major network. In March, Al Roker had shared an update on the iconic journalist as he turned 100. Roker, who himself has become a staple of the "Today" show, said Shalit "looked fantastic" and shared a photo of the film critic.
Death Notices: Daniel Sommers, age 63 of Little Falls.
Weather: Sunday sunny skies and high of 72. Clear Sunday night low around 48. Monday sunny skies, high 77 with isolated thunderstorms after 4pm, showers and storms Monday night low around 48. Tuesday sunny skies, breezy, high near 70, low around 50 with thunderstorms after dark, storms likely at times on Wednesday cool and breezy, high 68, low around 46. Thursday chance of a T-storms, sunny and windy, high 71, low around 49. Friday sunny skies, high 74 low around 50.
Sports: The New York Knicks are NBA Champions for first time since 1973 with a 94-90 win over San Antonio Saturday night to win the series 4 games to 1 in NBA Finals. Twins beat St. Louis Friday night 9-8 thanks to Clemens, Buxton, Lewis and Lee all hitting homeruns. Twins hit 3 more homers Saturday by Buxton, Lewis and Keaschell but Cardinals hit 4 homeruns to win 9-6 over Twins Saturday. Twins are at Texas 7:05pm Monday. Team USA won 4-1 over Paraguay in World Cup Soccer Friday. Las Vegas beat the Lynx 100-97 on Saturday night. State Baseball Tournament wraps up Monday at Target Field with St. Cloud Cathedral in 2A Championship. On Friday Rocori won consolation title in Class AAA. Ogilvie lost in consolation in Class A. Victory League Game of the Week Royalton at Pierz Bulldogs Sunday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.